These are the Triangle’s best public elementary & middle schools, US News says
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- U.S. News lists 2026 top K-8 schools in the Triangle; White Oak ranks No. 3.
- Multiple Cary and Apex schools appear in the state top 40 for elementary and middle.
- Rankings rely on state test proficiency, student background and U.S. DOE public data.
There’s no shortage of top-rated schools in North Carolina, and several in the Raleigh area rank among the best in the state, according to a new report.
More than a dozen were highlighted on U.S News & World Report’s 2026 Best Elementary and Middle Schools list, published Tuesday, Oct. 28.
White Oak Elementary in Apex was the highest-ranking Raleigh-area school, coming in at No. 3 on the list of the state’s best elementary schools, data show. Green Hope Elementary wasn’t far behind at No. 6, followed by Mills Park Elementary at No. 11.
For charter schools, Triangle Math and Science Academy ranked high in both the elementary and middle school categories, landing at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.
The rankings are published annually and recognize “institutions that excel in fostering student achievement and providing exceptional learning environments for all,” LaMont Jones, Ed.D., managing editor for Education at U.S. News, said in a news release sent to The Charlotte Observer.
“These rankings offer communities and families valuable insights into schools dedicated to preparing students for future success.”
Here are the best K-8 schools in the Raleigh metro area for 2026.
Best Triangle elementary schools
- White Oak Elementary in Apex (No. 3)
- Green Hope Elementary in Cary (No. 6)
- Mills Park Elementary in Cary (No. 11)
- High Croft Elementary in Cary (No. 12)
- Olive Chapel Elementary in Apex (No. 15)
- Davis Drive Elementary in Cary (No. 17)
- Hortons Creek Elementary in Cary (No. 30)
- Cedar Fork Elementary in Morrisville (No. 32)
- Holly Springs Elementary in Holly Springs (No. 37)
- Triangle Math and Science Academy in Cary (No. 39)
Best Triangle middle schools
- Mills Park Middle in Cary (No. 6)
- Peak Charter Academy in Apex (No. 9)
- Davis Drive Middle in Cary (No. 10)
- Wake Young Men’s Leadership Academy in Raleigh (No. 11)
- Triangle Math and Science Academy in Cary (No. 12)
- Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy in Raleigh (No. 17)
- Johnston Charter Academy in Clayton (No. 18)
- Endeavor Charter School in Wake Forest (No. 23)
- Envision Science Academy in Wake Forest (No. 27)
- Woods Charter in Chapel Hill (No. 28)
What are charter schools?
Charter schools are taxpayer-funded schools that are exempt from some of the regulations that traditional public schools must follow. But unlike private schools that accept taxpayer-funded vouchers from the state’s Opportunity Scholarship program, charter schools are still public schools, The News & Observer previously reported.
This month, The N.C. Charter Schools Review Board approved the application for a new charter school: Focus Academy Charter School is slated to open next year in Southeast Raleigh before moving to Garner.
How are US News’ rankings calculated?
For the rankings, U.S. News said it tallied each school’s standardized scores using key indicators such as math and reading proficiency and performance on each subject on state exams. It also took into account students’ backgrounds and learning in core subjects.
“State assessment data determines how most elementary and middle schools fare in these rankings,” editors wrote, adding that the results were based entirely on public U.S. Department of Education data.
Schools were then given a zero to 100 score to show how each “ranked within its state on a percentile basis.”
T. Keung Hui contributed to this report.